title: Effects of 8 weeks of Xpand® 2X pre workout supplementation on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, lean body mass, and strength in resistance trained males.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xpand® 2X is a proprietary blend comprised of branched chain amino acids, creatine monohydrate, beta-alanine (CarnoSyn®), quercetin, coenzymated B-vitamins, alanyl-glutamine (Sustamine®), and natural nitrate sources from pomegranate and beet root extracts purported to enhance the neuromuscular adaptations of resistance training. However to date, no long-term studies have been conducted with this supplement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a multi-ingredient performance supplement (MIPS) on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, lean body mass and lower body strength in resistance-trained males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty resistance-trained males (21.3 ± 1.9 years) were randomly assigned to consume a MIPS or a placebo of equal weight and volume (food-grade orange flavors and sweeteners) in a double-blind manner, 30 minutes prior to exercise. All subjects participated in an 8-week, 3-day per week, periodized, resistance-training program that was split-focused on multi-joint movements such as leg press, bench press, and bent-over rows. Ultrasonography measured muscle thickness of the quadriceps, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) determined lean body mass, and strength of the bench press and leg press were determined at weeks 0, 4, and 8 of the study. Data were analyzed with a 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA with LSD post hoc tests utilized to locate differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant group-by-time interaction in which the MIPS supplementation resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) increase in strength of the bench press (18.4% vs. 9.6%) compared with placebo after 4 and 8 weeks of training. There were no significant group by time interactions between MIPS supplementation nor the placebo in leg press strength (p = .08). MIPS supplementation also resulted in a significant increase in lean body mass (7.8% vs. 3.6%) and quadriceps muscle thickness (11.8% vs. 4.5%) compared with placebo (group*time, p <0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that this MIPS can positively augment adaptations in strength, and skeletal muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trained men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, USA. jmwilson@ut.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: Jordan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dudeck
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliveira de Souza
authors.forename: Sean A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCleary
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilson